Whitehead wants top-half finish for Stoke

The Potters are still producing quality performances despite having played 50 matches in all competitions this season and ahead of tonight's meeting with Aston Villa, Whitehead says the top half of the table still remains the goal.

"You have to praise all of the lads because it has been a long hard season, but we will still be in there battling all the way through to the last whistle on the final day of the season," he said in the wake of Saturday's 2-1 home win over Wolves.

"We want to show that we aren't prepared to let what has been a fantastic season just fizzle out.

"We want to get into the top ten - that is our target now.

"This win (against Wolves) should set us up well for Monday's game against Aston Villa, so we will go there full of confidence, and hopefully get another three points."